Density is the amount of something in a fixed measurement, such as population per square mile, grams (g) per milliliter (ml), or grams per cubic centimeter.

Density Examples

Oil and water - In an oil spill in the ocean, the oil rises to the top because it is less dense than water.

A Styrofoam cup is less dense than a ceramic cup, so the Styrofoam cup will float in water and the ceramic cup will sink.

A piece of wood will float on water; but, most rocks are more dense than water, so they will sink.

Helium is less dense than air, so helium balloons rise.

Oil floats on vinegar because its density is less.

When adding motor oil to your car, you need to know the recommended density.

Substance and Density

Here are examples of substances and their density expressed as grams per cubic centimeter.

Liquids

Acetic acid = 1.049

Acetone = .7846

Acetonitrile = .782

Alcohol (rubbing) = 0.79

Ammonia (liquid) = 0.771

Automobile oils = .880 - .940

Benzene = .8738

Bromine = 3.120

Butane = .599

Carbolic acid = .956

Carbon disulfide = 1.261

Carbon tetrachloride = 1.584

Castor oil = .9561

Chloride = 1.560

Chlorobenzene = 1.106

Citric acid = 1.660

Coconut oil = .924

Corn syrup = 38

Cotton seed oil = .926

Creosote = 1.067

Crude oil, 48o API = .790

Dichloromethane = 1.326

Diethylene glycol = 1.120

N,N-Dimethylformamide = .949

Ethane = .570

Ether = .7135

Formaldehyde = .812

Freon (fluorine) refrigerant R-11 = 1.476

Freon 11 = 1.490

Gasoline = 0.70

Glucose = 1.350 - 1.440

Glycerine = 1.259

Iodine = 4.927

Kerosene = .201

Linolenic acid = .97

Linseed oil = .9291

Mercury = 13.6

Methane = .465

Methanol = .791

Milk = 1.020 - 1.050

Nitric acid = 1.560

Octane = .6986

Oil of turpentine = .870

Olive oil = .800 - .920

Palmitic acid = .851

Paraffin = .800

Pentane = 626

Phenol = 1.072

Propane = .4935

Propylene glycol = .9653

Rosin oil = .980

Salt water (25%) = 1.25

Silicone oil = .760

Stearic acid = .891

Sunflower oil = .920

Tetrahydrofuran = .888

Turpentine = .8682

Water (4°C) = 1.0000

Whale oil = .925

Solids

Aluminum = 2.7

Bismuth = 9.78

Cast iron (pig) = 7.208

Copper = 8.3-9.0

Diamond = 3.01 - 3.52

Gold = 19.3

Iron = 7.8

Lead = 11.389

Magnesium = 1.7

Osmium = 22.5

Platinum = 21.4

Plutonium = 17.35

Rubber = 1.506

Silver = 10.49

Uranium = 18.7

Window glass = 2.579

Wood (bamboo) = 0.31 - 0.40

Wood (oak) = 0.77

Zinc = 6.92

Gases

Air = 0.001293

Ammonia = 0.000771

Argon = 0.001784

Carbon dioxide = .001977

Carbon monoxide = 0.00125

Chlorine = 0.0032

Fluorine = 0.001696

Helium = 0.000178

Hydrogen = 0.00009

Krypton = 0.00373

Neon = 0.0008999

Nitrogen = 0.00125

Nitrogen monoxide = 0.001251

Oxygen = 0.001429

Radon = 0.00973

Sulphur dioxide = 0.002927

Other Substances

Aluminum = 2.739

Apples = 0.641

Asbestos = 2.2 - 2.8

Baking powder = 0.721

Beeswax = 0.961

Butter = 0.86 - 0.87

Cardboard = 0.689

Chalk (solid) = 2.499

Fiberglass insulation = 0.032

Glass = 2.6

Ivory = 1.83 - 1.92

Leather = 0.946

Limestone = 2.739

Linoleum = 1.18

Marble (calcium carbonate) = 2.5 - 2.9

Paper = 0.7 - 1.201

Paraffin = 0.898

Plexiglass (Lucite) = 1.16 - 1.20

Porcelain = 2.3 - 2.5

Pyrex glass = 2.23

Quartz (solid) = 2.643

Snow (compacted) = 0.480

Snow (freshly fallen) = 0.160

Steel (1% carbon) = 7.83

Sugar (brown) = 0.721

Sugar (granulated) = 0.801

Sugar (powdered) = 0.801

Density plays many rolls. For example, population density is a way to express how many people are living in a specific area. Density is also a predictor of buoyancy, as something floats in a liquid if it is less dense than the liquid.